oil station ministries - refuse to be offended

8/14/2019 Oil Station Ministries - Refuse to be offended

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Refuse to beRefuse to beOffendedOffended

Comunicacin y Gerencia

Oil Station - Discipleship SchoolOil Station - Discipleship School

2008 Curriculum2008 Curriculum


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Timothy 2:1-2 You therefore,

my son, be strong in the gracethat is in Christ Jesus. And thethings which you have heardfrom me in the presence of manywitnesses, these entrust tofaithful men, who will be able toteach others also. (NASB)

Our Purpose


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To take and apply these teachingsin your life.

Review the scripture on your own.Be a Berean, check it out yourself

Apply the teaching Own the teaching Teach it to others.

Your Part


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(Luke 17:1-10) He said to His disciples, "It is inevitablethat stumbling blocks (offense) come, but woe to himthrough whom they come! (2) "It would be better forhim if a millstone were hung around his neck and hewere thrown into the sea, than that he would causeone of these little ones to stumble. (3) "Be on yourguard! If your brother sins, rebuke him; and if herepents, forgive him. (4) "And if he sins against youseven times a day, and returns to you seven times,saying, 'I repent,' forgive him." (5) The apostles saidto the Lord, "Increase our faith!" (6) And the Lordsaid, "If you had faith like a mustard seed, you wouldsay to this mulberry tree, 'Be uprooted and be plantedin the sea'; and it would obey you. (7) "Which of you,having a slave plowing or tending sheep, will say tohim when he has come in from the field, 'Comeimmediately and sit down to eat'? (8) "But will he notsay to him, 'Prepare something for me to eat, and

properly clothe yourself and serve me while I eat and

drink; and afterward you may eat and drink'? (9) "Hedoes not thank the slave because he did the things"

Main Text


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Text divides into 4 apparentsections

2. There will be offenses and dont offend. (1-

2)3. Forgiving those who sin against you. (3-4)

4. Faith What it can accomplish. (5-6)

5. Servants what their expectations are (7-8)

What do these Topics have inCommon?

7. Seemingly four separate topics

8. Can be stitched together into one theme..How to handle and our attitude toward

Introduction of Topic and Sub-topics


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The word for offenses in vs. 1 and offend in vs. 2

3. Offensesskandalon

skan'-dal-on

A scandal; probably from a derivative of G2578; a trap stick (bent sapling), that is, snare (figuratively cause of displeasure or sin): - occasion to fall (of stumbling), offence, thingthat offends, stumbling-block.

a) KJV, NKJV, YLT Offenseb) NASB, EVS Stumblec) NIV = cause to sin

12.Offenseskandaliz

skan-dal-id'-zo

To scandalize; from G4625; to entrap , that is, trip up (figuratively stumble [transitively] orentice to sin, apostasy or displeasure): - (make to) offend.

a) KJV, NKJV, YLT Offendb) NASB, EVS Stumblec) NIV = cause to sin

21. No issue with any of these. Same concepts apply.22. An offense can be a stumbling block for some.

Key Word


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Foundation for the message

The Bible states that relationships are the

most important part of the Christian life(Matthew 22:37-40) And He said to him, " 'YOU SHALL

LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, ANDWITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND.' (38)"This is the great and foremost commandment. (39)"The second is like it, 'YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBORAS YOURSELF.' (40) "On these two commandmentsdepend the whole Law and the Prophets."

5. Love God is the primary6. Love others is a close 2nd7. Why did Jesus give the top two when only asked for one?

Because they are closely tied together. (see 1John4:20-21)


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u(continued)

(1John 4:20-21) If someone says, "I love God," and hates

his brother, he is a liar; for the one who does not lovehis brother whom he has seen, cannot love God whomhe has not seen. (21) And this commandment wehave from Him, that the one who loves God shouldlove his brother also.

This is further confirmed in 1 John 5:1-2

1John 5:1-2 Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ isborn of God, and whoever loves the Father loves thechild born of Him. (2) By this we know that we love thechildren of God, when we love God and observe Hiscommandments.

If you love God, you will love his children. The twocannot be taken apart. It stands to reason.


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Offenses

What do we find in common with all ruined

relationships?

What is at the heart of a ruined relationship?

An example: Good Relationship Gone Bad.

The relationship was good.

Now its bad.

Why dont we say that the sin was what caused the

relationship to go bad?

Because the relationship only suffers if the one who waswronged takes offense. If no offense is taken, therelationship is still in good standing.


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Offenses (Continued)

Some seem to thrive on offense.

No forgiveness leads to bitterness of heart.

This leads to bitterness and strife with allrelationships.

Heb 12:15 See to it that no one comesshort of the grace of God; that no root of bitterness springing up causes trouble,and by it many be defiled;

The Good News about offenses


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Jesus tells us "It is inevitablethat stumbling blocks (offense)come,

Where are they going to come from?Many ways we can be offered an opportunity to takeoffense.

We however, are not obligated to take offense. In fact,we will see that theres alot a reasons not to takeoffense.

Its not necessary Its unwise We are called as Christians to not take offense


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Proverbs 19:11 A man's discretion makes

him slow to anger, And it is his glory tooverlook a transgression.

Discretion is also translated wisdom orknowledge.

The word glory can also be translated ashonor.

A mans wisdom makes him slow to anger.It is honorable for him when he overlooksa transgression.

This wise man, is slow to anger, and he iswilling to overlook a transgression.


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(Proverbs 16:32) He who is slow to anger

is better than the mighty, And he whorules his spirit, than he who captures acity.

This verse is an example of poeticparallels.

The man who is slow to anger is betterthan the mighty man.This same man who rules his spirit, isbetter than the mighty man who capturesa city.

So the man who is slow to anger, and ruleshis spirit is that man who is mightier than


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We will do well to remember that being

slow to anger is one of the DivineAttributes of God

(Exodus 34:6-7) Then the LORD passed byin front of him and proclaimed, "The LORD,the LORD God, compassionate andgracious, slow to anger , and abounding inlovingkindness and truth; (7) who keepslovingkindness for thousands, whoforgives iniquity, transgression and sin;yet He will by no means leave the guilty unpunished, visiting the iniquity of fatherson the children and on the grandchildren

to the third and fourth generations."


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The contrast with this wise man who

controls his Spirit to a man who does notcontrol his Spirit is also found in Proverbs

Pro 25:28 Like a city that is broken into and withoutwalls Is a man who has no control over his spirit.

What is a city that has no walls like?

The man who has no control over his spiritis in this same situation.


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Ruling your spirit in the Old Testament is

referred to as self control in the NewTestament. It is one of the fruits of theSpirit we should all have.Gal 5:22-23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace,patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, (23)

gentleness, self-control ; against such things there is nolaw.

Conversely, not being slow to anger isdescribed as a deed of the flesh.Gal 5:19-21 Now the deeds of the flesh are evident,which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, (20)idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger , disputes, dissensions, factions, (21) envying,drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which Iforewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those

who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.


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What should we consider when an offense

has been offered to us?

Was it unintentional or intentional?

Unintentional? What should we do?

Intentional? What should we do?

There is no other choice.


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Unintentional

Very small minded of us to takeoffense under any circumstances if

it was unintentional.

Even unbelievers would see this assmall minded.

If its unintentional Dont getoffended. Simple!!!


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Intentional Offense

What if the offense was intended?

Intended to harm to you in someway.Desired to hurt you, make you feelbadly, discredit you, the list goes onand one.

They purposely determined to causeyou harm.


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Intentional Offense (continued)

Pro 25:28 Like a city that is broken into and withoutwalls Is a man who has no control over his spirit.

Are you going to let that person havecontrol of your spirit?

Are you going to allow this person to getyour goat?

Will Rogers said rightly I am at themercy of any man who can make me losemy temper


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Self Control is one of many characteristics

that will prevent us from being useless inthe knowledge of Jesus.(2Peter 1:5-7) Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in yourfaith supply moral excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge, (6)and in your knowledge, self-control , and in your self-control, perseverance,

and in your perseverance, godliness, (7) and in your godliness, brotherlykindness, and in your brotherly kindness, love.

Verse 8 tells us the result of being diligentabout these things.(2Peter 1:8) For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they renderyou neither useless nor unfruitful in the true knowledge of our Lord JesusChrist.

Being here tonight is a good indication that wedesire to be fruitful, not unfruitful.


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In either case, we should not be

offended, whether intentional orunintentional

Unintentional because there is nocause to, it would be small minded of us.

Intentional Because based on scriptureit would be very unwise of us, and would

cost us in our pursuit to be usable byGod.

Note: Not being offended is not thesame as being apathetic toward offense.Apathy means a lack of caring. We as


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Our purpose for not being offended?

Simply stated Love

We are to obey what Jesus commanded on the Sermonon the Mount.

Matthew 5:43-44 "You have heard that it was said,'YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR and hate yourenemy.' (44) "But I say to you, love your enemies andpray for those who persecute you,

We are even to love our enemies.

It is love for us to not take offense.

Love your enemies. It is this Love that calls us to nottake offense. Love requires us to not take offense, if we take offense; we fall short of Jesus call to love.


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What is Love?

(1Corinthians 13:4-7) Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant,(5) does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek itsown, is not provoked, does not take into account awrong suffered, (6) does not rejoice inunrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; (7) bears

all things, believes all things, hopes all things, enduresall things.

Direct connections between loves definition and ourteaching on offenses

Patient (long Suffering) - slow to anger, willingness to

accept hurt.Is not provoked - slow to anger, willingness to accepthurt.Does not take into account a wrong willingness toaccept hurt, forgivingbears all things willingness to accept hurt, forgiving,Endures all things continually being forgiving,acce tin hurt etc


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Loving your brother gives no cause

to stumble or offense(1John 2:10-11) The one who loves his brother abides in the Light andthere is no cause for stumbling in him. (11) But the one who hates hisbrother is in the darkness and walks in the darkness, and does not know

where he is going because the darkness has blinded his eyes.

As we abide and walk in the light, we seewhere we are going and can see thethings that can make us stumble or beoffended. When we are in the dark, wedont see that which causes us tostumble or offend or be offended. Soloving our brother is abiding in the Light,

and we know the Light is capitalizedbecause the Li ht is esus. Love our


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Now, back to Luke

What does Jesus say about offenses in Luke 17:1-4(Luke 17:1-4) He said to His disciples, "It is inevitablethat stumbling blocks come, but woe to him throughwhom they come! (2) "It would be better for him if amillstone were hung around his neck and he were

thrown into the sea, than that he would cause one of these little ones to stumble. (3) "Be on your guard! If your brother sins, rebuke him; and if he repents,forgive him. (4) "And if he sins against you seventimes a day, and returns to you seven times, saying, 'Irepent,' forgive him."

The first two verses are about offense, the second twoverses are about forgiveness.

Although they seem like two separate topics, they arenot. They are about relationships and love.


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Jesus tells us in verse one that offenses willcome.

Someone will sin against you.

Someone will either intentionally or unintentionally

cause you harm. You will be offered an occasion to be offended.

But you dont have to take offense as we have notedbefore.

Make sure you are not that one offering the occasion.If you do, you get a millstone necklace and get

tossed into the sea.

Note: This isnt to say you wont rightly offendsomeone. The Gospel is an offense to some. This is


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Forgiveness

Luke 17:3 "Be on your guard! If your brothersins, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him.

Rebuke him! This seems a little harsh, but isthat what is meant by it? Rebuke can also be

translated as admonish. Either way we know Jesus doesnt condone harshness toward abrother. Paul taught us how to bring a brotherback into fellowship.

Gal 6:1 Brethren, even if anyone is caught inany trespass, you who are spiritual, restore sucha one in a spirit of gentleness; each one lookingto yourself, so that you too will not be tempted.

( d)


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Forgiveness(Continued)

What is our motivation for restoring(rebuking) a brother?

LoveWe want him to be restored. We want him to repent.Because we love him.

We desire him to repent because Jesus has already told usthe outcome of causing offense and not repenting. If hedoes not repent, he wins the millstone award and a short

walk on a short pier. And if he refuses to repent, theprocess of removing him from fellowship is to begin

We are to be motivated by love for our brothers wellbeing.

Oh, and by the way, if he repents, forgive and keep onforgiving.

F i (C i d)


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We also know we are to forgive even if rebuke or

repentance isnt sought. Jesus gives us this example in Mark

Mar 11:25-26 "Whenever you stand praying,forgive, if you have anything against anyone, sothat your Father who is in heaven will alsoforgive you your transgressions. (26) [ "But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father whois in heaven forgive your transgressions."]

There is no call for repentance in this situation.

One time we are told to rebuke, the other thereis no mention of it. Whats the difference?

F i (C i d)


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What is the difference?

Relationship

Mark 11 is concerned about the condition of our heart. Jesus is telling usto make sure our heart is right before approaching our Father in prayer.

In Luke 17 Jesus is concerned about forgiveness and about restoring therelationship via the rebuke.

What about those who are not our brothers? Non believers?

We are to forgive our enemies also. Jesus and Steven are our examples.

Luke 23:34 But Jesus was saying, "Father, forgive them; for they do not knowwhat they are doing."

Act 7:60 "Lord, do not hold this sin against them!"

F i h


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Faith

Luk3 17:5-6 The apostles said to the Lord, "Increase our faith!" (6) And the

Lord said, "If you had faith like a mustard seed, you would say to this mulberrytree, 'Be uprooted and be planted in the sea'; and it would obey you.

Faith can be defined several ways. Boil them all down and what you get is

A very high opinion of God.

Hebrews 11:11 By faith even Sarah herself received ability to conceive, even beyond the proper time of life, since she considered Him faithfulwho had promised.Faith in God, is having a high opinion of Him. He is faithful to do all that hehas promised.

To not have faith in God is to have a low opinion of God.

As Christian, we have to believe God to be truthful and that he will keep his promises to us. We have deemed Him worthy and therefore have a very highopinion of Him.

S


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Servants

Luke 17:7-10 "Which of you, having a slave plowing or

tending sheep, will say to him when he has come infrom the field, 'Come immediately and sit down to eat'?(8) "But will he not say to him, 'Prepare something forme to eat, and properly clothe yourself and serve mewhile I eat and drink; and afterward you may eat anddrink'? (9) "He does not thank the slave because he didthe things which were commanded, does he? (10) "Soyou too, when you do all the things which arecommanded you, say, 'We are unworthy slaves; we havedone only that which we ought to have done.'"

Not a teaching about how to treat your servants.Slaves or servants have not been treated very well inhistory.RomeUS

S t ( ti d)


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Servants (continued)

Passage is about what a slave is supposed to do.

His attitude toward his master and what expectations heshould have.

Slave does his job and doesnt expect special recognitionfor doing what is expected of him.

This is a teaching on what our attitude should be towarddoing what we have been commanded to do by ourmaster. Love God, Love our brothers.

When we have done all we have been commanded to do,we say, 'We are unworthy slaves; we have done only that

which we ought to have done.'We are not to look for reward for simply doing what isexpected.

After all, as Christians, we know what we really deserve.

Hell

N t t ki Off


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Not taking OffenseWhat do we deserve?

Three ways to be treated.

You were treated just the way you deserved. You were treated in a way that was worse thanwe deserve.

You were treated in a way that is better thanyou deserve.

The only time offense is taken, is when we aretreated in a way less than we deserve.

What do we deserve?

N t t ki Off ( t)


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Not taking Offense (cont)Example:

JosephSold into slavery by his brothersLied about by Potiphars wife and thrown into

prisonBroken promise by fellow cell mate.

How did he respond to his brothers?

Genesis 50:20 "As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant itfor good in order to bring about this present result, to preserve many

people alive.

This was Gods work.

Gods sovereignty was at work. It is always at work.

Someone easily offended has too high an opinion of

himself, and not a high enough opinion of God

N t t ki g Off ( t)


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Not taking Offense (cont)How can we take offense believing that God is

Sovereign? No one can touch us unless permitted by God.(Job)

If we truly believe in Gods sovereignty, wecannot take offense.

This requires a high opinion of God, and a low

opinion of ourselves.

Wh i it k t t k ff ?


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When is it ok to take offense?There are times when we should take offense.

Jesus was offended by the money changers in thetemple.

Why?

Not because they were doing anything to him.

They were offending God by desecrating the temple.

Whats the difference?

Jesus was standing up for someone else who was beingwronged.

Another time of Jesus being offended and angry

occurred.Mar 3:4-5 And He *said to them, "Is it lawful to do goodor to do harm on the Sabbath, to save a life or to kill?"But they kept silent. (5) After looking around at themwith anger, grieved at their hardness of heart, He *saidto the man, "Stretch out your hand." And he stretchedit out, and his hand was restored.

When is it ok to t ke offense?


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When is it ok to take offense?When they were hurting Jesus, he did not take offense.

When they were hurting others, he took offense.

Paul forgave his brothers who deserted him.

2Ti 4:16 At my first defense no one supported me, but all deserted me;may it not be counted against them.

But not Alexander the coppersmith.

2Ti 4:14 Alexander the coppersmith did me much harm; the Lord willrepay him according to his deeds.

Alexander was hurting the cause of Christ. He was against Pauls

teachings.Paul's words are Lord repay him

When is it ok to take offense?


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When is it ok to take offense?Paul's words are Lord repay him

Paul didn't say, Im going to get him. He said Lord gethim.

Rom 12:19 Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for thewrath of God, for it is written, "VENGEANCE IS MINE, I WILLREPAY," says the Lord.

Cl i


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If we as Christians would refuse to be offended,we would revolutionize the church.

Marriages would be revolutionized.

Parent/child relationships would be

revolutionized.

All relationships in the Church would berevolutionized.

And the world would know us as Christians,

By our love

Closing


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Welcome to the mostWelcome to the mostexciting journey youexciting journey you

will ever take!will ever take!

oil station ministries - refuse to be offended

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